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(No Model.)

GORDON 8v J. W. DODGE TRACE TRIMMING' MACHINE.

Patented A r; 29, 1884.

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NITED PATENT Orrrcn.

'WVILLIAM GORDON, OF BOSTON, AND J. WESLEY DODGE, OF MADDEN, MASS;

TRACE-TRIMMING MACHINE.

v$51?IECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,787, dated April 29; 1884:.

Application filed January 19, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

. Be it known that we, WILLIAM GORDON, 0 Boston, in the county of Suffolk, and J. VVEs- LEY DODGE, of Malden, in the county of Middlesex, both in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Trace, Trimming Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide means for quickly and easily trimming the edges of leather traces or straps; and it consists, as a whole, in an organized machine or apparatus composed, first, of a pair of elon-. gated jaws or plates adapted to hold a strap edgewise; and,secondly, of a tool adaptedto move upon and trim the projecting edge of the trace held between the jaws.

The invention also consists in certain de-' tails, all of which we will proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a' part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation'of a machine embodying our invention. Fig. 2 represents an end view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a bottom View of the'trimming-tool. Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. '5 represents an enlarged section on line as 00, Fig. 1.

The same letters of reference indicatethe same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, a a represent parallel elongated jaws or plates of metal. The jaw a is rigidly attached to arms or supports b,which are secured to a base, 0. The jaw a is secured to slides or bars 6, which are adapted to move at right angles to the length of the jaws a a in guidesor standards ff, affiXed to the base 0.

9 represents an arbor or rock-shaft journalcd in bearings attached to the base 0, said arbor being parallel with the jaws a a. To the arbor g are affixed a series of cams, h, against the perimeters of which the slides e bear,there being preferably a cam for each slide. Springs 7c are interposed between shoulders on the slides e and the bearings in which the slides move, said springs pressing the slides against the cams, and moving the jaw a away from v the jaw a when the cams are turned so as to tion of the links.

permit such movement. The arbor g is provided with a handle or lever, Z, whereby it may turned in either direction.

mrepresents an elongated gage bar or plate arranged under the jaws a a, and adapted to support a trace or strap, it, placed between said jaws before the jaws are caused to grasp the trace or strap. Said gage regulates the extent of the projection of the upper edge of the trace or strap above the uppersides of the jaws, and is preferably made vertically adjustable, so that it can support straps of different widths. To this end the gage-bar is supported. by links 0, which are pivoted at their upper ends to the bar, and at their lower ends to the base 0. Said links permit the bar to move longitudinally, and at the same time rise or fall, as will be readily seen, the height of the bar depending on the inclina- The bar is held in any position to which it may be adjusted by a pin, q, passing through an orifice in the bar at, and one of a series of orifices in an arm, 0", affixed to the base a. It is obvious, however, that other means may be used for adjusting and holding the gage-bar.

8 represents a trimming-tool, which is composed of a stock or body, 2, provided with a longitudinal knife or blade, 3, which is held or clamped between two parts of the stock, as shown in Fig. 5, said stock being divided longitudinally and having screws 44, which connect its parts or divisions, so that the blade can be easily inserted and removed. The knife-holding parts of the stock are provided with flanges 5 5, on which the knife bears. The under surface of the knife is molded between said flanges to the form which is to be imparted to the trace or strap, and the cutting:edge is formed by theinterscction of the beveled front end and the molded bottom-surface of the blade. In advance of the blade is a gage-bar, 6, which limits the thickness of the shaving removed from the-trace or strap by the blade. Said gage is a plate of metal rigidly attached to the stock at its front end by a screwor nut, 7, and adapted to spring upwardly at its rear end into a recess in the stock and pressed downwardly as far as may be desired by a screw,

. ing it from slipping laterally.

8, bearing on its upper surface, the screw and the resilience of the bar enabling the portion of the bar that bears 011 the edge of the strap in advance of the knife to be adjusted as may be desired. The stock is provided with a handle, 9, and a vent or escape orifice, 10, for

cuttings. At each side of the gage-bar are downward]y-projeeting lips or flanges 12 12, which bear against the sides of the strap when the tool is in operation, and thus guide the tool, keeping the knife in place and prevent- The jaws a a should be of suitable length to grasp the entire length of a trace or strap to be trimmed. The trace or strap being in place in the jaws, as shown in Fig. 2, the operator moves the tool rapidly along the projecting edge of the trace, thus trimming it from end to end. Then, by a single movement of the lever Z, the strap may be released, and after it is turned to expose the other edge the strap may be grasped by another movement of thelever and trimmed on its other edge. Provision is thus made for rapidly and uniformly trimming traces and other long straps, there being no liability of the tool to run off the edge of the strap.

It is obflous that the knife may be formed to impart any desired shape to the trimmed edge.

The jaws a a serve as agage to determine the depth of cut of the knife. Theknife-stock projects below the edge of the knife, (see Fig. 5,) and when the strap has been trimmed away so that the knife-stock rides on the jaws the knife ceases to cut.

YVe claim- 1. The combination, in an organized machine for trimming the edges of leather traces or straps, of a pair of elongated jaws adapted to hold and release a strap and to serve as a gage for the cutter, and a trimming-tool adapted to move along the upper edge of the strap and impart the desired form to the edge thereof, as set forth.

2. In atrace or strap trimming machine, the combination of the elongated jaws a athe one fixed and the other movable-and means,

substantially as described, for moving the movable jaw with relation to the fixed jaw to grasp or release a trace or strap between said jaws, as set forth.

8. In atrace or strap trimming machine, the combination of the elongated parallel jawsone fixed and the other movable means, sub stantially as described, for moving the movable jaw with relation to the fixed jaw, averticallyadjustable elongated gage arranged to support the lower edge of the strap, and means for positively holding said gage in any position to which it may be adjusted, as set forth.

4. In a trace-trimming machine,the combination of the fixed elongated jaw a, the movable elongated jawa, secured to bars 0, adapted to slide in bearings f f, the rock-shaft 9, having cams h, bearing against the bars 0, and springs k, arranged to press the bars 0 against the cams, as set forth.

5. In a trace-trimming machine, the combination, with the fixed and movable elongated jaws a a, of the elongated gage 121, located under said jaws, the pivoted links supporting said gage and permitting it to be raised or lowered by an endwise movement, and devices, substantially as described, for holding the gage.

6. The improved trace-trimming tool composed of the stock 2, provided withacuttingblade, 3, parallel with the bottom of the stock,

and with an adj ustable gage in advance of said blade and guides at the sides of said gage, as set forth.

7. The tool-stock 2, divided longitudinally into two parts, having lips 5 and connectingscrews 4, whereby the blade may be detaehably held in the stock, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses this 15th day of January, 1884.

\VILLIAM GORDON. J. IVESLEY DODGE.

XVitnesses:

C. F. BRowN, A. L. WHITE. 

